The United States imposed sanctions on three mining companies operating in Guatemala for allegations of corruption. The Treasury Department sanctioned Guatemala Nickel Company (CGN), Pronico and MayaNickel based on the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
The United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned a Russian national, Dmitry Kudryakov, and a Belarusian national, Irina Litvinyuk. This was for his role in the exploitation of the Guatemalan mining sector, as well as three affiliated entities related to his corruption schemes.
“We stand with the people of Guatemala and we support protecting your country’s natural resources from outside exploitation,” said Brian E. Nelson, Under Secretary of State for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. The official said: We will use our tools to help ensure that corrupt profiteers face the consequences for stealing from the Guatemalan people.
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#urgent Treasury Department has approved #Corruption to Guatemalan nickel company CGN, Pronico and Mayaníquel on the basis of the Global Magnitsky Law of Responsibility for Human Rights and to Russian citizens Dmitry Kudryakov and Irina Litviniuk. #mining secrets pic.twitter.com/VrpFafeUdN
— Community Press (@CommunityPress) November 18, 2022
Approved Mining Companies
Compañía Guatemalteca de Níquel (CGN), Compañía Procesadora de Níquel (Pronico) and Mayaníquel operate as subsidiaries of Solway Investment Group, a Russian company that has exploited Guatemalan mines since 2011. The leader of Solway’s mining operations in Guatemala is Russian citizen Dmitry Kudryakov. Together with Irina Litvinyuk, a citizen of Belarus.
The United States said in a statement that these two individuals allegedly ran several bribery schemes over several years. Bribes were paid to politicians, judges and government officials.
Furthermore, it added that Irina Litvinyuk committed corrupt acts in support of Russian influence peddling schemes. It was alleged that he had illegally made cash payments to public officials in exchange for support for Russian mining interests.
